New Car/Review

1997 Mercedes-Benz SL Class

by Carey Russ

The Mercedes-Benz SL Class sports coupes and roadsters have
been cars to be reckoned with in the prestigious high-priced sports-luxury
class ever since the days of the legendary, race-bred 300SL gullwing coupe
in the mid-1950s. The SL-class Benzes have always offered prestige,
comfort, and balanced performance. They have also been expensive. Less
costly than the Italian exotics, perhaps, but still more Rodeo Drive than
Main Street, the SLs serve as the co-flagships of the Mercedes-Benz lines
with the S-class sedans and coupes. Innovative technology first introduced
in the SL and S-class cars is later used in lesser lines. The 5-speed
electronically-controlled automatic transmission first used in the SL and S-
class models is now used in all Mercedes-Benz cars. Side airbags, now in
the SL, will undoubtedly see further application in the future.

Currently, Mercedes-Benz SL models are available as the 6-
cylinder SL320, V8 SL500, or limited-production V12-powered SL600.
They are sporting luxury convertibles with an emphasis on luxury. Two
hard tops are available, a regular metal one and a new, tinted glass
"Panorama" top that gives an open-air experience with comfort and
protection in all weather conditions. The optional "Sport Package"
includes body trim and wheels designed by noted Mercedes-Benz tuning
firm AMG.

A week with an SL500 Sport was most impressive. It was
supremely comfortable and elegant. Although I'm not in the income
bracket to own one, but it's always an experience to see how the other half
lives.

APPEARANCE: The SL500 is tastefully elegant and understated in an
old-money way. Even with the Sport Package, it is not overly flamboyant,
although the 18-inch AMG monobloc wheels and ultra-low profile high-
speed tires that are part of the package do dominate the car's appearance.
The basic SL is a small, two-seat version of conservative Mercedes-Benz
styling, an angular wedge with rounded edges and modestly-flared fenders
for a sporting look. A wide grille with horizontal slats and the three-
pointed star logo proclaims the car's identity and should help ensure top-
notch valet parking care. The Sport Package adds a deeper front apron
with integral air dam and foglamps, sculpted side skirts, a special rear
bumper treatment, and those wheels and tires.

COMFORT: The SL500 is a luxury car at heart, albeit a very muscular
one. Luxury here, as in all Mercedes-Benz products, means lean luxury,
stressing comfort and elegance over opulence. The driver and passenger
are treated to excellent power-adjustable leather seats. The thick, leather-
covered steering wheel has power tilt and telescopic adjustment. Tasteful
amounts of leather and wood trim enhance the door panels and central
console. The climate control system provides cool or warm air in short
order, and the Bose stereo system sounds great. The trunk will hold two
sets of golf clubs, or an equivalent amount of luggage. The standard cloth
convertible top has quarter windows for comparatively good visibility
when up. Windows and mirrors are power-operated, of course. So is the
top. To raise or lower the top, all one need do is press a button on the
console. An array of servo motors and hydraulic devices take care of all
manual labor, quickly and efficiently.

SAFETY: In addition to all of the more common safety features - dual
frontal air bags, safety-cage construction with front and rear crush zones,
and antilock disc brakes, the SL500 has side airbags mounted in the doors,
an automatic roll bar, and a passenger seat occupancy detector that
deactivates the passenger side air bag if a weight of less than 26 lbs. is in
the seat. The optional Electronic Stability Program (ESP) takes traction
control a step further and applies brake pressure to individual wheels to
control an incipient spin or slide.

ROADABILITY: The SL500 is a high-performance luxury car, with an
emphasis on touring comfort. With a two-ton curb weight, it is too heavy
to be a narrow-focus sports car. It is also too quiet, comfortable, and
refined to be a narrow-focus sports car. The chassis is among the most
rigid ever made for a convertible, ensuring a solid base for the front strut,
multilink rear independent suspension. That the extremely low-profile tires
of the Sport Package - 40-series front and 35 rear - do not result in a
particularly harsh ride is a compliment to the design of the suspension and
the abilities of the Mercedes-Benz engineers. Handling is perfect for the
car's intended purpose, fast touring. Xenon low-beam headlamps light the
road very well at night.

PERFORMANCE: The SL500 may not be a lightweight racer, but its 5-
liter V8 engine has enough power to move it down the road quite smartly.
With 315 horsepower and a healthy 345 lb-ft of torque, the SL500 is not
slow. The engine is always smooth and very quiet in normal operation, but
spirited driving brings an enthusiastic V8 growl. The 5-speed,
electronically-controlled automatic transmission is wonderfully smooth
and refined. The torque converter locks up in third, fourth, and fifth gears
for efficiency.